29.09.2010 - Azerbaijan needs to demonstrate it is a close ally of the West

From Telegraph: Samir Sharifovov, the Azeri finance minister, who is director of the State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) and is directly responsible for investing the countryís oil revenues, is seen by many in Washington as the man to help stabilise Azerbaijan, and prevent it from going the way of Krygyzstan.
The importance of Azerbaijanís role has been reflected in the recent high-profile visits to Baku, the Azeri capital, by Hillary Clinton, the U.S. Secretary of State, and Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who delivered personal letters of support from U.S. President Barack Obama..............................................Full Article: Source